Workplace Smoking Rules in Massachusetts

General provisions. All workplaces with one or more employees must be smoke-free. Exemptions exist for private membership clubs and smoking and cigar bars.

Employers covered. Employers with one or more employees.

Written policy requirements. Employer policy not specified.

Posting requirements. Signs indicating that smoking is prohibited must be conspicuously displayed at the entrance to each area where smoking is banned.

No smoking areas. Smoking is prohibited in public elevators, supermarkets and retail food outlets, in or upon any public mass transit conveyance (including indoor and enclosed outdoor platforms), at meetings of governmental bodies open to the public and in any courtroom. Signs indicating that smoking is prohibited must be conspicuously displayed at the entrance to each area where smoking is banned.

In a restaurant with a seating capacity of 75 or more, smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas — designated by sign or notice — and only if nonsmoking areas of sufficient size and capacity are available to accommodate nonsmokers. Notice of the smoking policy must be conspicuously posted at each entrance. Within the building, the smoking and nonsmoking areas must be clearly labeled with signs or notices.

Designated smoking areas. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas of a courthouse, school, college, university, museum, library, train, airplane (including any waiting area in an airport), the waiting area of a health care facility, group child care center, school-aged day care center or family day care center licensed by the state. An area within one of the above places may be designated for smoking only if nonsmoking areas of sufficient size and capacity are available to accommodate nonsmokers.